The velocity of sound in water relative to aluminum or steel is approximately 1:4. Which of the following represents this ratio?

• A. 1:2
• B. 1:4
• C. 1:3
• D. 1:8

Answer: (B)

When you compare how fast sound travels in different materials, you look at the relative speeds. In water the speed is about 1,500 m/s, while in common metals like aluminum or steel it's around 6,000 m/s. That means sound travels about four times faster in the metal than in water, so the ratio of water speed to metal speed is roughly 1:4. The option that matches this four-to-one difference is the correct representation. The other ratios would imply water is only half, a third, or one-eighth as fast as the metal, which doesn't align with the typical speeds in these media.